22 May 1989

12th plenary meeting

Intensification and co-ordination of measures for reduction of the illicit demand for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling that the General Assembly, in its resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, welcomed the successful conclusion of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and, in particular, the adoption of the Declaration and the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control,

Noting that the General Assembly, in the same resolution, requested the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, as the principal United Nations policy-making body on drug control, to identify suitable measures for follow-up to the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking,

Seriously concerned at the increasing availability of illicit drugs and the world-wide upward trend in drug abuse, causing widespread human suffering, loss of life and social disruption,

Recognizing that measures of prevention, public awareness, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration are essential factors in curbing drug abuse,

Aware that the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 1988/9 of 25 May 1988, urged Governments to improve measures for demand reduction,

Noting that article 14 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, adopted on 19 December 1988 at Vienna requires parties to adopt measures aimed at eliminating or reducing illicit demand for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,

Acknowleding that the specialized agencies concerned with demand reduction initiatives have responded positively to General Assembly resolution 38/93 of 16 December 1983 and the Declaration of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in intensifying their drug-related activities,

Recognizing the important role that international non-governmental organizations play in all aspects of demand reduction,

Mindful of the fundamental need for action at the national, regional and international levels to achieve a balanced programme of reduction of the supply of and demand for illicit drugs,

Aware that the achievement of those goals requires continuous attention, in-depth analysis, monitoring, co-ordination, follow-up and extensive collaboration,

Noting with satisfaction that the Commission on Narcotic Drugs has included in the provisional agenda for its thirty-fourth session an item concerning the prevention and reduction of the illicit demand for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,

1. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to assess the level of national and international progress in implementing the seven targets set out in chapter I of the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control, adopted by the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking:

(a) To issue a succinct questionnaire, by 31 December 1989, to all Governments and regional intergovernmental organizations, requesting details of action taken at the national and regional levels in implementing the seven targets, together with details of any practical difficulties they have experienced in meeting them;

(b) To prepare, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization, a report, to be issued by 30 November 1990, analysing the information submitted and assessing in particular how best to provide help to States in furthering demand reduction strategies and determining the extent to which each of the seven targets continues to be relevant, for consideration by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its thirty-fourth session;

2. Urges all Governments and regional intergovernmental organizations to co-operate fully in the preparation of the above-mentioned report by providing the information requested in the questionnaire in good time;

3. Urges all Governments to continue to give higher priority to demand reduction in their national strategies to combat drug abuse through the necessary policy and legislative adjustments, including the allocation of appropriate resources and services for prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration;

4. Calls upon the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization and other appropriate intergovernmental organizations to intensify relevant activities and accord them the higher priority, and to collaborate closely with international non-governmental organizations;

5. Calls upon international non-governmental organizations to extend and co-ordinate their activities in developing and executing demand reduction programmes through their contacts with the community at the grass-roots level, in close co-operation with the Division of Narcotic Drugs of the United Nations Secretariat and other appropriate United Nations organizations and agencies, with the aim of effectively complementing and supplementing their work;

6. Encourages the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control in the further development of its master plans to give due attention to demand reduction activities and the provision of greater resources for related intervention programmes;

7. Urges all Member States to take appropriate steps in the General Assembly and its financial organs to assign the appropriate priority and, within the proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 1990-1991 approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 43/214 of 21 December 1988, to approve the budgetary appropriations necessary to enable the Division of Narcotic Drugs to carry out the tasks referred to in paragraph 1 above;

8. Invites the Secretary-General to identify the financial, technical and human resources required by the Division of Narcotic Drugs to carry out those tasks and to make recommendations, taking into account General Assembly resolution 43/214 and the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to all Governments, specialized agencies and the international non-governmental organizations concerned for consideration and implementation as appropriate.